Fans make their way into the Sanford Pentagon before the Resurrection Fighting Alliance 17 Mixed Martial Arts event--the first legally sanctioned MMA event held in the state of South Dakota--on Friday, Aug. 22, 2014, at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader

Alan Sehr is tended to between rounds while fighting Apollo Swanson during the Resurrection Fighting Alliance 17 Mixed Martial Arts event--the first legally sanctioned MMA event held in the state of South Dakota--on Friday, Aug. 22, 2014, at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader

Bryce Logan on the ground after being defeated by Ted Edwards during the Resurrection Fighting Alliance 17 Mixed Martial Arts event--the first legally sanctioned MMA event held in the state of South Dakota--on Friday, Aug. 22, 2014, at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader

Devin Turner high fives fans while waiting to be introduced before fighting Clay Wimmer during the Resurrection Fighting Alliance 17 Mixed Martial Arts event--the first legally sanctioned MMA event held in the state of South Dakota--on Friday, Aug. 22, 2014, at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader

Darrick Minner gets a drink of water between rounds during his fight with Luke Sanders during the Resurrection Fighting Alliance 17 Mixed Martial Arts event--the first legally sanctioned MMA event held in the state of South Dakota--on Friday, Aug. 22, 2014, at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader

Mark Dickman is tended to between rounds of his fight against Justin Lawrence for the Ressurrection Fighting Alliance Featherweight Championship during the Resurrection Fighting Alliance 17 Mixed Martial Arts event--the first legally sanctioned MMA event held in the state of South Dakota--on Friday, Aug. 22, 2014, at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. Joe Ahlquist / Argus Leader

Sioux Falls swung hard and connected Friday night in hosting the first sanctioned mixed martial arts card in South Dakota history, supplying a nationally televised audience with an electric crowd fueled by a couple rising local talents in Resurrection Fighting Alliance 17.

Sanford Pentagon officials were thrilled with the near capacity turnout of roughly 3,500 fans. The atmosphere impressed television commentators from AXS TV; people didn't wait for the co-main events on the 12-bout card to make noise. Local fighters said the scene was even better than what they envisioned.

It was the new beginning that area MMA enthusiasts have been waiting for.

"Everyone in these seats tonight you were a part of history," 170-pounder Jordon Larson told the crowd after a unanimous decision over Donovan Winters. "This is the start of a long, nasty road for MMA in South Dakota."

To be clear, the Washington High grad and Next Edge Academy fighter meant "nasty" in a good way – not in the old, unsanctioned way that put participants and promoters in peril. This event marked the on-duty debut of the South Dakota Athletic Commission, the governor-appointed group that will oversee MMA and boxing cards in this state. Two commissioners – Dr. Michael Bergeron and attorney Lee Lohff – were on hand Friday, largely to roam, to make sure that procedures were followed and operations ran smoothly. The commission will do most of its work in advance, establishing rules and issuing licenses, according to executive secretary Jennifer Stalley.

On the surface, everything went off as planned – at least from an organizational standpoint. The main event ended in stunning fashion, underdog Christos Giagos of Los Angeles catching Dakota Cochrane of Omaha in the head with a flying knee to score a second-round knockout and claim the RFA lightweight crown.

None of the first seven bouts went the distance – three rounds of 5 minutes each – yet none of the fighters were injured to the point where they needed help leaving the raised, octagonal cage. (As an aside, the main court of the Pentagon was almost unrecognizably transformed for the show, the historic hardwood motif covered by steel accents and bright lights and VIP tables and a couple motorcycles.)

Even Bryce Logan of Next Edge walked off on his own power after suffering a knock-out loss 33 seconds into the first round of a 155-pound bout at the right hand of former Arizona State wrestler Te Edwards, a member of the renowned Power MMA gym.

Power MMA is based on Phoenix, but has an outpost – a newly created workout room – across from the Pentagon at the Sanford Fieldhouse. That's because Sioux Falls-based agent Dave Martin and NBA veteran Mike Miller – childhood friends from Mitchell – have a stake in Power. They have a role in the evolution of MMA in this state, too; their early interest created ties between several top national fighters and local corporations, key in putting Sioux Falls in position to make a high-level debut. Sanctioned or not, the sport has been anything but dormant here.

That was apparent in the way the crowd reacted. Clearly, they know the sport and the fighters – with extra enthusiasm for the locals. Many fans were restless and some booed during the featherweight title fight, won by former UFC fighter Justin Lawrence of San Diego by unanimous decision over Mark Dickman of Las Vegas.

South Dakota State wrestling coach Chris Bono was on hand along with most of his team, and he said the noise was greater than at any of the three UFC events he's attended. AXS TV correspondent Ron Kruck said it was among the loudest crowds he's experienced in more than 10 years covering the sport domestically and internationally.

"The crowd was amazing," Pentagon general manager Eric Larsen said. "We're really, really happily surprised at this crowd. They're really into it, and they love their South Dakota fighters."

There were 10 on the card, including six from Next Edge – the most respected gym in Sioux Falls and home to two current UFC fighters. Two of the participants likely boosted their careers by showing out at RFA 17.

In his first fight since returning from a National Guard deployment to Afghanistan, the 23-year-old Larson survived a back-and-forth, main-card affair with Winters of Beatrice, Neb. He seemed on the brink of winning by TKO in Round 2 only to later need to escape an arm bar in order to avoid losing by submission.

Lincoln grad and Next Edge fighter Devin Clark was the other major local winner, topping Power's Aaron Brown – a 2012 draft pick of the St. Louis Rams at outside linebacker – by second-round TKO. The 205-pound Brown, a hyped prospect, was all swagger upon entering the cage and looked relatively stunned when exiting. Afterward, Clark – a former state and national junior college champ in wrestling – was approached and congratulated by RFA president Ed Soares, a top MMA manager.

"Hopefully, I impressed some people," the 24-year-old said.

He almost certainly did – maybe a multi-fight deal is in his future. Sioux Falls could be on a similar track with RFA, a top development promotion; Larsen said he could foresee hosting 2-3 cards annually.